Electrolyzer



R. PECHKRANZ.

ELECTROLYZER.

APPLlcAloN mfp JUNE 1. 1920.

Patented May 9, 1922,.A

jmw

i ing is a specification. Y

Urrs` STA?,

l RODOLPHE PECHKRANZ, OF CAROUGE-GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.

ELECTROLYZER. y

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led June 1, 1920.y Serial No.` 385,598.

To all/whom t'mafz/ concern: fv A Be it known that I, RoDoLrHa PECH- KRi-mz, ya 'citizen of Switzerland, residing at Carouge-Geneva Canton of Geneva, in the Confederation 'of Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in- Electrolyzers, of which the follow'- yThe present invention relates two electrolyzersv and especially to the electrolyzers of the tank type that is to say of the type 'in which the surface ofthe electrolyte is open rto the outer air.

' The improved electrolyzer has, like other known electrolyzers of the .tank type, verticalA electrodes which alternate with vertical diaphragms provided with frames of some insulating materialV andfor1ning a block with the electrodes, but is distinguished therefrom by the fact that the electrodes, which are slightly smaller, do

not reach to the'wouter 'edges of thel said` frames, thus excludingall evolution of gas outside the parallelepiped block formed by the juxtaposition of the frames and consequently permitting of the immersion of the block in the tank.

In the drawings:

Figures l and 2 are two vertical sections taken at an angle of 90o to each other.

Figure 3 is a detail section thereof on a larger scale.

This constructional vform has a single tank a of sheet iron which contains the electrolyte b. In this latteris sunk a block composed of different parts: at the centre of the block four vertical frames o made of some insulating material (cement) and of rectangular form, each carrying a diaphragm c1 of asbestos or perforated metal plate: at the two ends of the block are mounted pieces Z of insulating 'materialeach having an end Z1 and a frame d2 of cement, which bears against the adjacent frame c. The frames 0, Z have on their side and lower inner edges grooves o2, Z3 which are situated opposite each other two by two and receive the monopolar electrodes e, of

rectangular form. To the side faces of these frames c, Z2 are applied two sheets f of eternite, a mixture of asbestos and cement, constituting a fully tight covering and are held in place on them by rigid plates g made of asbestos and cement` The different parts of the block thus constitutedA are pressed one against the other by means notv shown in the drawing, stirruipsv'or bolts forv example. The upper portions of the frames c, Z2 are made thinner so that the passages o3, (Z4 are obtained, by which the n gases from `the cathodesor anodes escape and which are evolved on both faces of each electrode e.' this latteris provided with an upright piece not `shown' and serving to connect it to an inward `or an outward con'- ductor for theV current.

Owing to thefact'that/-these electrodes do not reach to the sidel and lower faces of the block, this latter may be completely vsunk in the `same .tank without a parasitic electrolysis being produced along theedges l of the electrodes whichl would be situated without that onvthese faces: what is called parasitic electrolysis ris that lkind of electrolysis the' gaseous products of which are evolved at a point of the electrolyzer which is not arranged to collect them.`

The block ,iscompletely sunk in the elec- Vtrolyte and lis surmounted by a cover 71,

madein a single block and containing a number of cells which serve to collect the rammed May 9,1922.

gases 'fromthe cathodes and anodesift is made of lsome insulating material vbeing moulded' for example 'in' pottery, cement,

eternite which is a mixture of asbestos andcementmaterial, or a cement composition. The outer kwalls and thek internal partitions of the cover 71, rest on the pieces and the frames c. lSuch a cover is not only economilecting one of the two gases, which' is sim! pler than having a special outlet for each cell. rIhe supply of fresh liquid in place of that part of the electrolyte decomposed by the current is made through one or more openings of very small dimensions such as l',made in the frames c.

This illustrated electrolyzer has no organized circulation of the electrolyte for bringing it into a chamber where clarication is effected of the emulsion produced by the mixture of the electroyte and the bubbles .y

of gas due to electrolysis. The result of the tranquility of the said electrolyte is that very porous diaphragrns may be employed Without compromising the purity of the gases.

The numbers of the diaphragms and ofthe electrodes may differ from those indicated in the drawing.

The electrodes may be bipolar instead of being monopolar, that is to say a different gas is evolved on each face of one and the same electrode. They are then mounted in series and only the two eXtreme electrodes are connected to the inward and outward conductors for the current. The partitions of the cover, the number of Which is equal to the sum of the numbers of the electrodes and of the diaphragms, rest in this case on the frames of the diaphragms and on the upper edge of the different electrodes Which reach to the height of the top of these frames.

I claim:

l. In an electrolyzer of the tank type in combination Vertical diaphragms, a plurality of frames of insulating material, vertical electrodes of slightly smaller size than said diaphragms, said electrodes being arranged in alternation with said diaphragms and so dimensioned that when inserted into said frames they do n ot reach to the outer edges of the latter, substantially as described.

2. In an electrolyzer of the tank type in combination Vertical diaphragme, a plurality of frames of insulating material, vertical electrodes of slightly smaller size than said diaphragins, one of said diaphragms being inserted in each. one of said frames, said electrodes being arrangedY in alternation with said diaphragms and so dimensioned that when inserted into said frames they do not reach to the outer edges of the latter, a hermetic covering applied to the facesv of said frames, rigid plates for holding said coverings in place, means for pressing the individual constituents together to form a single block, substantially as described.

3. In an electrolyzer of the tank type in combination, vertical diaphragms, a plurality of frames of insulating material, vertical electrodes of slightly smaller size than said diaphragms, one of said diaphragms being inserted in each one of said frames, said electrodes being arranged in alternation with said diaphragms and so dimensioned that when inserted into said frames they do not reach to the outer edges of the latter, a

hermetic covering applied to the faces of said frames, rigid plates for holdingsaid coverings in place, means for pressing the individual constituents together to form a single block, a multicellular cover moulded of insulatingmaterial surmounting the said block for collecting the gases which are produced by electrolysis, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature 1n presence of two Witnesses.

RoDoLPHn PECHKRANZ. Witnesses DR. ROD. DE VURTEMBURG, ECHN. EMMANNS. 

